Label and foil wiping apparatus



July 1, 1952 A. c. TESS LABEL AND FOIL WIPING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 20, 1949 INVENTOR.

ALBERT 6. 7555 BY $7 M i ue I IM y 1952 A. c. TESS 2,601,934

LABEL AND FOIL WIPING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. A45er C 7955 Arrow/5m y 1952 A. c. TEss 2,601,934

LABEL AND FOIL WIPING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 20, 1949 a Sheets-Sheet 3 IATM/1M INVEN TOR. ALBERT C. 7555 Arme/v s'w Patented July 1, 1952 AlbertC. Tess, Ramsey, N. J assignor to Edward Ermold Company, New York, N.Y., a corpora-V tion of New York Application December 20, 1949, SerialNo. 133,968

This'invention relates to label applying machinery and moreparticularly, to improved meth-- d and mechanism for use in automaticlabeling machines for wiping labels into engagement with curved orcylindrical surface articles, such as bottles, jars, cans and the like.

In applying labels ordecorative foils to containers, it is conventionalto utilize one or more wiper elements mounted, for example, onreciprocatory carriers which move thewiper elements into engagement withthe'unattached label to press. or wipe the label upon a surface of thecontainer. Where the label is to surround a portion of a bottle, usuallythe neck portion, a pair of laterally, reciprocating wiper elements inthe form of freely rotatable, long bristle brushes have beenmade toreciprocate, in sequence past the trailingedge of the movingbottle,.engaging first one free end of. .thelabel and wiping it againstthev bottle, and then, .with the second brush, wipingthe other freeendin like manner from the opposite side.

Such method of wiping offers the least wiping action at that end of thelabelwhere it is most required. Also, the'action of the second wiper,due to the free rotation thereof, issuchthat the label is pressed morethan wiped onto the bottle surface; I hus quality of the finishedwork isdependent largely on the pressure exerted by the wiper element on thelabel and container. With some types of labels, however, andparticularly those finished with a heavy varnish coat, flagging orpeeling of the label may occur or the label-may be otherwise marred fromexcessive radial pressure.

In accordance withthe invention, a labelor foil applying mechanism isprovided for overcoming the deficiences of the conventional method andmore'efiectively; afifixing the protective or ornamental label about thecontainer or other article, L Y a f 'I}his is; accomplished by providingmechanism aifording positiverotary movement to atleast one of theopposed wiper elements, which-move-v ment is supplementalto andconcurrent with oscillatory or recimfocatory motion thereof. ,By virtueof the oscillatory; motion or bodily translation in a curvilinear path,the wiper element is forced tofollow a path -partially around thecontainer in such manner that a substantially uniform; pressure is,exertediover a larger portion of the label. In addition, the added andattend:

ingrotary movementenables the attainment of a defin t twini ac the wipere n The direction of the supplemental rotary move:

'9 Claims. (CL-216+57l ment'imparted by the novel mechanism to onewiperv is opposite tothat which would occurshould the wiper be allowedto freely'rotate about its axis .while in engagement with the label.This action also tends to draw the label taut by wiping while lightlypressing the labelinto contact with the container.

.The invention may be more readily understood. by reference to thefollowing description ofla representative embodiment, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a bottle labelingmachine incorporating the improved wiper mechanism as seen in the.direction of movement of the bottles;

Figure 2, is'a view in vertical section taken along the line 2--2 ofFigure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of a portion of the labeling machineshowing in an inactive position a portion of the mechanism for actuatingthe wiper elements and with a bottle and its unaflixed label approachingthe wipers; Figure 1 shows a portion of the mechanism of Figure 3 withthe first wiping element at the completion of its operative engagementwith thelabel and the bottle neck; and

Figure 5 shows a portion of the mechanism of Figure 3 with the firstwiper returned to its initial position andthe second wiper in action,completing the application of the label to the bottle. 7

' The drawings show a novel. wiper-actuating mechanism formed accordingto the invention and isolated from a complete labeling machine such asthat shown in the U. S. patent of Edward Ermold, No. 1,871,677,120 whichreference may be had for a detailed description of a labeling machine towhich the present invention may be applied. I

Referring to Figure 2, a line of bottles l0, suitably spaced from eachother, is passed in the direction of the arrow l3 by conventional andcon-' tinuous conveying mechanism (not shown) between a pairofjuxtaposed wiper elements II and I2, which may comprise long-bristledbrushes, for example. In timed relationship to the movement of thebottles and prior to the actuation of. thewiper elements to engage thebottle neck, a label, sheet or foil or the like, L,- is placed againstthe bottle by suitable applying means not shown, and clamped .to thebottle by suitable gripper means l4, shown inFigure 3, butnotformingpart of the invention. Thelabel L, yvhich is made to partially envelopthe bottle neck, is pre-gummed along its two inside vertical edges.

As the bottle with its unafiixed label continues to move in thedirection of arrow l3, the flagging end of the label L, engages thefirst wiper element I I, and is partially wrapped around the bottle byvirtue of the linear translation of the bottle by the conveyor. Whenbottle and label have passed the center of Wiper H, the wiper isactuated to move at right angles to the path of the bottle and acrossthe trailing edge thereof to the approximate position shown in Figure 4,thus completing the wipe of the first free end of the label.

ment (2 which is in its initial (or retracted) posiwrapped around thebottle due to the feeding movement of the conveyor. In timed relation tothe movement of the bottle, the wiper element I2 is then actuatedbymechanisrn described below and caused to swing about the axis'of pin22 across the trailing edge of the bottle While in addition beingpositively rotated about its own axis in a direction opposite that whichit would have 'if allowed-to roll freely over the surface of the bottle.

Thus, a positive Wiping action is obtained, and since the brush travelsalong an arc in the direction. of the movement of the bottle, asubstantially uniform pressure is exerted by the wiper on the labelthroughout its wiping cycle. Also, because. the arcuate movement of thebrush causes it to follow the bottlein a limited amount along its lineof feeding movement, it is possible to effect wiping of the label beyondthe point of tangency of a plane at: right angles to the line of feed ofthe bottle with the trailing edge thereof. This results in highlyeifective application of so-called all-around" labels.

The wiper elements i and I2 are actuated sequentially in timed relationtothe movement of the bottle through the machine by means of cams (notshown) which rock pivotally mounted bellcranlt le'vers l5 and [6 whichin turn reciprocate although the actuating mechanism described in thesaid patent maybe similar to that utilized herein, the timing of therespective movements shouldbemodified according to this disclosure inorder .to produce the correct wiping actions. Thecylindrical wiperelement H is freely rotatively, mounted on a post 19 dependingvertically from theslide bar carrier i1 and is reciprocated therewithlaterally of its axis of rotation. Instead of being rotatively mountedon anaxis which is fixed with respect to the slide bar carrier H, as inthe case of wiper H and the prior art, the wiper element I2 ismountedupon a vertical post 20 which is suspended from one end of a lever arm 2l, the other end of which is supported for pivotal movement about avertical .pin 22 by a stationary, cantilever hanger arm 23. The hanger,arm 23 is endwise afiixed by suitable means such as a bolt-securedblock 24 to a vertical, stationary column 25. Thus, the wiper element-l2may be swung or revolved about the pin 22:1with the lever arm 2| as aradius. I

, A:roller2fi' mounted on the upper end of the verticallpost 28, whichcarries the wiper element I2, extends upwardly to be laterally embracedby the arms of a yoke member 26 secured to-the The bottle and label,continuing' their travel through the machine, engage wiper ele undersideof the slide bar carrier l8. Thus, as the slide bar carrier [8 isreciprocated, it swings the wiper element 12 about the center 22 throughthe driving action of the yoke member 26. It should be noted that withinthe limits of the reciprocation of the slide bar carrier 18 the arcuatedisplacement of the wiper element I2 is such that the component ofmovementin the direction of feeding motion of the bottle increases asthe wiper engages the trailing edge of the bottie and moves partiallyabout the surface thereof.

The actuation of the respective wiper elements H and I2 is such thatthey move in opposite directiohs and engage the bottle neck in timedrelationship so that the free ends of the labels are successively wipedagainst the bottle, thereby enabling the wiper elements H and [2 toeffect a complete wrap of the label about the neck of the bottle asdescribed.

It will be seen from Figure 5 that as the wiper element I 2 engages androlls on the. label the spreading bristles tend to slide the label Labout the bottle neck. This action, unmodified, could cause bunching orother undesirable efiects in the applied label. .Also, if the wiper andbottle are moving in paths which are substantially mutuallyperpendicular, wiping pressure decreases as the wiper approaches the endof the label and it is impossible to effectively wipe a label beyond thetrailing edge of the bottle. 7

To modify these possible undersirable effects a radius arm 2'! issecured to the freely rotatable, upright shaft 20 which carries thewiper element 12. The free end of the radius arm 21 is joined by meansof a pivotally connected link 28 toa stationary lug 29 afiixed to thecantilever hanger arm 23, the radius arm 21 and link 28 comprising aconstraining linkage. This constraining linkage is so adjusted that asthe wiper element is bodily displaced laterally with respect to its axisby the action of the slide bar carrier [8 on pivot arm 2i, it isconcurrently rotated about its own axis. The direction of this rotation,as the wiper is moved into-engagement with a bottle, is indi cated bythe arrow 30 of Figure "5, and is such thatthe absolutemotion, i. e.,relative movement with respect to the bottle surface. of that por tionof the wipe-r which is in engagement with the label is increased. Thisrotary motionof the wiper tends to drag the bristles over the label,thus providing the positive wiping action described above. 4

- It-will be a parent, therefore, that the-"ton dency of the spreadingbristles of the wiper e1ement I2 to push or slide the label inacou'nterclockwise direction will b materially decreased. Furthermore,by appropriate ;-design of the mounting linkage, including the pivot arm2! and slide bar carrier l8, the portion of the wiper element I2 inengagement with the bottle surface may be made to exert more or lessradial'prea sure on the label thus enabling control of--any tendency tomar the label. This controlled, oscillato'ry arciiate movement of-thewiper element I2 is uSefliI Controlling the amount Of pres sureexer-tedo'n the receding bottle and'label, and maintainingthedesiredpressure'until the end of th label has been a'ffi-xe'd to thebottle,; even though the label encompasses'the bottles for somewhat morethan 360, -or beyond the trailing edge. Moreover, the amount of positiverota tion of the wiperlZ may be controlled by appropriate design of theconstraining linkage including the radius arm 21 and connecting link:28, thereby to govern the degree of frictional wiping 55 energyimpartedto .thelabel. to insure its tautness or smoothness.

While a specific embodiment 'jh'a s been described above, the inventionis not intended to be limited thereto, but issuse'eptible of numerouschanges in form and detail. For example,-both, wiper lements may. beprovided with positive driving means for imparting positive rotationalmovement in various amountsithereto simu'ltane ously with the usuallateral ;displa'cement..;. ;Fur: thermore, -the supportinglinkage;forthe; wiper elements may be changed in several respects without departingfrom the spirit of th invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for labelling objects, convey-r means for moving saidobjects through the machine, means for wiping a label upon a surface ofthe object, including a wiper element, a mounting for said wiper elementpermitting rotary movement thereof about an axis, a carrier for saidmounting providing for movement of the mounting to displace the wiperelement laterally of said axis of rotation and in a directionsubstantially transversely of the direction of conveyor movement, andpositive driving means for simultaneously rotating the wiper elementabout said axis and displacing said mounting and wiper element laterallywith respect to said axis, said rotary and lateral movements being indirections supplementing one another to wipe the label upon a surface ofthe object.

2. In a label-applying machine, in combination, means for conveyingobjects to be labelled through said machine, means for positioning alabel adjacent a surface of the object, a pivot arm disposed laterallyof the line of bottle movement, a wiper member rotatably carried by thefree end of said pivot arm, and actuating means for oscillating said armabout the pivot and for rotating the wiping member in timed relation tothe movement of the object through the machine, thereby to carry saidwiper member into engagement with said label to cause the label to bewiped onto a surface of the object by a combination of rotary andtranslatory movement.

3. In a machine for applying a label to a given surface, a wiper elementhaving a label-engaging portion, means for bodily displacing said wiperelement to engage said label to press the latter against the givensurface by movement relatively thereto, and positive driving means forrotating said element simultaneously with the displacement thereof,thereby to increase relative movement between the label and thelabel-engaging portion of the wiper during the wiping operation.

4. In a labelling machine including work conveying means and means forpositioning a label adjacent a surface of the work, a wiper element,means supporting said wiper element for rotation about an axis, acarrier for said supporting means providing for bodily displacement ofthe wiper element in a direction lateral with respect to the axis ofrotation and transversely of the direction of conveying movement, andunitary actuating means for simultaneously rotating the Wiper elementabout said axis and for displacing the wiper element, thereby to pressthe label against a surface of the work, with the bodily displacement ofthe wiper as well as the rotational movement thereof aifording relativemovement with respect to the surface of the Work.

5. In a machine for applying a foil to a bottle to surround the neckportion thereof and having means for positioning a foil adjacent thebottle neck; prior to beingwiped uponthe, surface, the.

combination of conveyor meansz for moving said bottlethrouglr themachinaza first wiper element, means for- 1 displacing isaid element. intransla.-.

andpartially wipe ,the-foil upon, the bottle neck, a ,second wiperelement having. a foil-engaging portion and an axis of rotation, meansTfor'displacing said -secgrrd wiper element in translation in directionssubstantially transversely of the direction of conveyor movement andopposing those of said first wiper element and in timed relationshipthereto, thereby to engage and wipe the foil upon the bottle neck at apoint spaced from said first wiper element, and positive driving meansfor rotating said second wiper element about said axis in a directionsuch that the foil-engaging portion thereof. is displaced relatively tothe label surface at a rate exceeding that caused by said lateraltranslation of the second wiper.

6. In a bottle labelling machine, a wiper element for pressing a labelinto engagement with a bottle surface, said wiper having an axis ofrotation, means supporting said wiper and permitting oscillatorymovement about an axis spaced from said axis of rotation and rotarymovement about said axis of rotation, driving means for oscillating saidwiper, a radius arm secured to said wiper, link means joining the freeend of said radius arm to a stationary point, said radius arm and linkmeans providing a positive driving connection for rotating said wipersimultaneously with the oscillatory movement thereof.

7. In a bottle labelling machine having bottleconvey ng means and meansfor positioning a label adjacent a surface of said bottle prior to beingafiixed thereto, in combination a first label wiping element and meansfor bodily displacing the wiping element to engage 'said label in timedrelationship to the movement of the bottle through the machine by theconveying means, a lever arm, a second label wiping element supported bysaid lever arm for rotation about an axis, means pivotally supportingsaid lever arm at a point spaced from the axis of rotation of saidwiping element, a radius arm connected to rotate said second wipingelement about said axis, a stationary support, a link connecting thefree end of said radius arm to the stationary support, a reciprocatorymember, and operative driving connections between said reciprocatorymember and said second wiping element, whereby reciprocation of saidmember causes the second wiping element to partake of concurrentrevolutionary and rotary motion in engaging the label.

8. In a bottle labelling machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein theoperative driving connections between said reciprocatory member and saidsecond wiping element comprise a shaft portion substantially coaxialwith the axis about which said wiping element is rotated, and a yokemember laterally embracing said shaft and secured to said reciprocatorymember.

9. A machine for applying a label to the surface of a containerincluding in combination,

means for conveying said container through the 3 machine, a first wiperelement having a labelengaging portion, means for bodily displacing saidwiper element in a given first direction to engage the label to press aportion of the same against the surface of the container adjacent thetrailing edge thereof with respect to the conveyor motion, a secondwiper element having a REFERENCES CITED portion: means for bodily Thefollowing references are of record in the placing said second wiperelement in a direcme of this patent:

tion having a component of motion substantially opposite to said firstdirection to engage said' 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS label to press thesame against the surface of Number Name Date the container adjacent thetrailing edge there- 1,294,290 Mac Farland Feb. 11, 1919 of, said wiperelements being displaced in timed I 1,469,599 Johnson et a1 -1 Oct. 2,1923 relationship. 1,871,677 Ermo1ds11' Aug. 16, 1932 ALBERT C. TESS. 102,118,527 Schmutzer et a1. May 24, 1938 2,315,349 Os'lufid Mar. 30, 1943

